[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 20798-20799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               HONORING HARCUM COLLEGE'S 85th ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
85th anniversary of Harcum College. The Harcum Post Graduate School was 
opened by Edith Hatcher, a talented concert pianist, and her husband 
Octavius Marvin Harcum. Together they chose a venture that would 
combine her ``talents as an educator and artist and his business vision 
and ability.'' Harcum College opened its doors on October 1, 1915 in 
Melville Hall, with three students and five pianos.
  In its early years, Harcum was a preparatory school, giving students 
the skills needed to attend college. Mr. Harcum was the first 
President, but when he died tragically in a car accident in 1920, Edith 
assumed the Presidency. She remained in that position for more than 30 
years. The college continued to grow, yet it was a proprietary 
institution and faced financial difficulties. In 1952 it could no 
longer be run as a profitable enterprise; Edith declared bankruptcy.
  The Junto Adult School was a non-profit educational corporation 
founded by Benjamin Franklin. It purchased the assets of Harcum and 
decided to use it as a two-year college for women. Philip Klein assumed 
leadership, and in 1955, Pennsylvania granted Harcum permission to be 
the first junior college in the Commonwealth's history to confer the 
Associate of Arts and Science degrees.

[[Page 20799]]

  Throughout the years, tremendous expansion of facilities has occurred 
yet Harcum remains committed to its original philosophies. Harcum 
College embraces a value system based on four principles: a respect for 
and appreciation of diversity; the ability to make sound ethical and 
moral choices; the need to take responsibility for self and others; and 
a commitment to lifelong learning. All members of the Harcum community 
are committed to the success of one another.
  Harcum College has always placed learning first and is committed to 
providing individualized educational experiences for a diverse 
community of learners. Harcum educated students in the arts and 
occupational skills, and in Mrs. Harcum's words, the college respected 
each student as an ``individual with personal needs, interests, 
aptitudes, and aspirations.''
  I commend Harcum College for its accomplishments and commitment to 
education. Harcum has faced many challenges over the years, and I 
congratulate the institution as it remains an outstanding educational 
facility.

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